“Love Handles” Can Be Used To Reconstruct A Breast

Using tissue from the region just above the buttock to reconstruct the breasts can be an excellent option when personal preference, the shape of one’s body or a history of prior surgery make this area a more appealing donor site. Using Lumbar Artery Perforator (LAP) flaps, it is possible to reconstruct a woman’s breasts with soft tissue harvested from the lower back and hip-- “love-handle” -- areas. Since excess skin and fatty tissue are removed along the waistline, similar to that which is removed during cosmetic buttock-lift surgery, the buttocks end up in a higher position with these procedures. The scar that results from harvest of a LAP flap can generally be well concealed along the waistline where the buttock and lower back meet making this an appealing option for many women.

Muscle Preserving Surgery

The blood vessels that are needed for a LAP flap are meticulously dissected without removing any muscle. Since muscle is neither divided nor removed when harvesting a LAP flap, postoperative discomfort is minimized. After a LAP flap is transferred to the chest, the blood vessels of the flap are connected to blood vessels at the mastectomy site using an operating room microscope. The skin and fat of the LAP flap are then shaped into a new breast.

Optimizing Aesthetics

Approximately three months after the initial stage of breast reconstruction surgery, reconstruction of your nipples (when mastectomy includes their removal), refinement of breast shape and procedures to produce symmetry with your untreated breast can be completed. These optional additional procedures are performed on an outpatient basis and are referred to as Stage II.

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LAP Flap Surgery in New York and Connecticut

Contact us if you would like more information about LAP flaps for breast reconstruction or for information about other options for breast reconstruction including DIEP flap surgery after mastectomy. Our practice has offices in New York City and Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Procedure Photos

View photographs of women who have undergone mastectomy and breast reconstruction.